Chhayanat - Institute of Bengal's Culture & Heritage

Singers of Chhayanat

A small group of cultural minded personalities who decided to set up an organization 50 years ago might have never thought that their initiative would one day grow to be the majestic canopy of Bengal's cultural and musical heritage. And which would be the part and parcel of history of the nation's formation and afterward would play the role of nurturing the nation's true identity. Yes, it is Chhayanat, the premier cultural platform of the country.

Over the last 50 years, Chhayanat has been upholding the Bangalee's cultural identity through offering lessons in music, dance, language and literature and holding cultural functions in almost all national festivals. In the words of Wahidul Haque, one of its founders, "Chhayanat is a sacred ground of practicing Bengali identity, through which it wants to reach the world humanity."

The nation was in the clutches of Pakistani military rule then. In such a time, in the year of Bangla 1368 or 1961, a group of cultural activists successfully celebrated the birth centennial of Rabindranath Tagore. After the celebration the activists, including Mokhlesur Rahman, Shamsunnahar Rahman, Begum Sufia Kamal, Saidul Hasan, Farida Hasan, and Waheedul Haque, felt the necessity of establishing a new and progressive cultural organisation. Chhayanat is the outcome of their initiative and it set sail its journey on that year. Sufia Kamal was the founder president of the organisation.

Chhayanat's first public function was Purano Ganer Asar (Programme of old songs), held at Dhaka under the direction of Abdul Ahad. In 1963, on Pahela Baishakh Chhayanat Sangit Vidyayatan was established. Next year, at the initiative of Sanjida Khatun, Pahela Baisakh was celebrated enthusiastically with a concert under the banyan tree in Ramna Park. Since then it has been the central attraction of Baisakh celebration.

Aside from celebrating new year, the birth and death anniversaries of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, seasonal festivals such as Pahela Falgun, Barsa Baran, Sharadiya Utsab (Autumn Festival) are some major events of the Chhayanat calendar.

Chhayanat has faced various obstacles from the government. Frequently it has had to shift its school, Chhayanat Sangit Vidyayatan, from one place to another. At various times it was located in Azimpur Agrani Girls' High School, Bangla Academy, Kalabagan and Dhaka University Laboratory School. At present it has its own building on a one-bigha land on Road 15A, Dhanmondi.

The music school offers courses on ten departments of singing, dance, and instrumental music. At present, around 4, 500 students are enrolled, with a minimal tuition of TK 250-300. Thus Chhayanat has been painstakingly grooming new talents and given the nation much to cherish.

"During the war of liberation, a group of Chhayanat students and artists went from camp to camp and sang to the refuges and freedom fighters to boost their morale," according to the Chhayanat president Sanjida Khatun.

She said that Chhayanat came into being to nurture and uplift the nation's cultural identity and heritage and is still focused on that goal.শিক্ষা সংক্রান্ত খবরাখবর নিয়মিত পেতে রেজিস্ট্রেশন করুন অথবা Log In করুন।

Account Benefit